Former boxer Wladimir Klitschko has said his family is "going through a time of profound shock and grief" after the death of his former partner, Hayden Panettiere, at the age of 36. The actress, known for roles in Heroes and Nashville, died on Sunday.
Tribute to the Mother of His Daughter
In an Instagram post, Klitschko wrote: "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief. The announcement of Hayden's tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya."
He added: "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives. To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was."
Klitschko extended condolences to Panettiere's parents, friends, and fans, and asked for privacy during "this incredibly difficult time." He concluded: "Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden."
Investigation and Family Statements
Officers in Greenville, South Carolina, found Panettiere in cardiac arrest and reported "no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances." The Greenville County Coroner's Office confirmed an autopsy found "no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death," with cause and manner pending further investigation.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, described her as "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen." He also requested privacy as the family processes the loss.
Career and Personal Struggles
Panettiere was open about her battles with addiction and postpartum mental health issues. In a memoir released earlier this year, she detailed her brother Jansen's death and her decision to give full custody of Kaya to Klitschko in 2018. She told podcaster Jay Shetty: "I was struggling with mental health and anxiety, and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself."
Her career began in childhood, with roles in soap operas, the voice of Dot in A Bug's Life (1998), and Remember the Titans (2000). She rose to fame as Claire Bennet in Heroes and played Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations and 11 Billboard Hot Country Songs entries. Her films include Bring It On: All or Nothing, Raising Helen, and Scream 4 and Scream VI.
